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GSA Now Offers Popular Consumer Publications Online

The 100 most popular government publications are now easily accessible online.

GSA # 10786

April 5, 2011
Sara Merriam, 202-501-1231
sara.merriam@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON — Through a partnership among GSA, the U.S. Government Printing Office, and Google, 100 of the most popular government publications are now available to download for free online. This partnership will allow for greater access to these documents and contribute to an open and transparent government. As more documents become available online, it will eventually reduce the number of documents that GSA’s Federal Citizen Information Center prints while reducing costs and the environmental impact.

“GSA is committed to an open and accessible government," said David L. McClure, GSA’s Associate Administrator of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies. “GSA is meeting the demand for these popular documents, and the public can now access them wherever they can access the Web. As more people get these publications online instead of hard copies, GSA can reduce the overall number it prints.”

These publications on health, government benefits, scams, and personal finance are the most sought-after documents that the Government Printing Office publishes. This new arrangement allows the public to freely view and download PDF copies of the publications to desktops, laptops, e-readers, and mobile devices from GPO’s bookstore at: http://pueblo.gpo.gov/FreePubs.php. They are also available by searching on Google or Google Books.

Federal agencies providing this information online is just one more way that government is increasing its openness to the public. Traditionally, GSA’s Federal Citizen Information Center has provided hard copies of these publications to consumers via requests to its Publications Distribution Center in Pueblo, Colo. This new initiative is an additional way GSA is using technology to provide better services to the public. Additionally, the FCIC is taking requests from other federal agencies to add their free consumer publications and expand the offering.

“GPO and GSA have been partners in distributing federal government publications to the American people for over 40 years,” said GPO’s Business Products and Services Managing Director Herb Jackson. “GPO looks forward to expanding that partnership with Google in providing the public with free electronic access to popular consumer publications.”

Since 1970, GSA’s FCIC has been distributing government consumer publications on topics such as staying healthy, understanding government benefits, managing finances and saving money, avoiding scams and identity theft, and much more. GSA’s FCIC manages a toll free number 888-8 PUEBLO (888-878-3256), where the public may order the consumer product catalog and publications, or visit the FCIC website (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov).

As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions include:
• Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 215,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;
• Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up approximately 14 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;
• Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,
• Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.